Spring 2019 • Volume 29 / No. 1
SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION
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BOARD
Our Vision
Frank Peters, President Amy Steinfield, Vice President Diana O’Connell John Hygelund Blake Stok David Dennis Nancy Mulholland
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBIKE) vision is that Santa Barbara will be a leader in creating a bicycle-friendly community and transportation system. Extensive on-road and separated bikeways, a coordinated transit system, parking, and amenities allow us to enjoy a culture where the majority of daily trips include a bicycle. As a result, our community is healthier and encourages balanced living within our resources. Universal cycling education for all ages
STAFF
supports the development of safe and respectful road behaviors from both motorists and cyclists. Widespread community and political support for bicycling is in place. By 2040, because it is a cycling-centered county, Santa Barbara is both a great place to live and work and a nationally acclaimed cycling destination, boasting a year-round calendar of successful, fun, and inclusive events.
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Photo Paul Wellman
he heroes, said Mr. Rogers, understand shared responsibility—they “see the need and respond,” never saying, “It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.” Astronauts experience a profound awe, coined “overview effect.” It’s an experiential understanding of our fragility, our interdependency, and earth as our “shared home.” A vital network of advocates is empowering a bicycling revolution around that home. SBBIKE is doing its part. As board president Frank Peters says, inclusion within and beyond our county and shared utilization of resources and strategies are key. Make no mistake. Bicycling is a great equalizer. It has, in the words of Susan B. Anthony, “done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” Connecting Bogotá, Colombia, with bicycle paths, was, says former mayor Enrique Penalosa, “democracy at work”—cycling infrastructure opened opportunities across socioeconomic classes and made a citizen on a $30 bike as important as a citizen in a $30,000 car (see the documentary Urbanized. Equity matters full stop. And we’re stronger together. We must take care not to improve access only in wealthier areas, leaving gaps for those who would roll with us. Increasing cycling accessibility and safety across all neighborhoods has the potential to play a role in meeting our shared responsibility to our planet. Empowering all of Santa Barbara County with safe bicycling infrastructure that connects vibrant, cohesive communities will make it a cycling destination—an economic boon. These pages are filled with results of the hard work of people who would be heroes of Mr. Rogers. Here find a few of the ways bicycling culture—safe access, increased equity, and the revolution—is spreading across the many communities
To rolling together,
Holly Starley
COVER PHOTO: Climbing a hill alongside awe-inspiring Santa Barbara County vistas is part of the deal for this Dunn School high school student, who’s part of Dunn’s mountain biking team—and for many more Santa Barbarans as advocates and educators work to increase access across our county. MICHELLE TURNER
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Quick Release Spring 2019
Ellen Willis-Conger, Associate Director ellen@sbbike.org Christine Bourgeois, Education Director edu@sbbike.org
Letter from the Editor
of our shared Santa Barbara County home.
Ed France, Executive Director ed@sbbike.org
Myrna Muñoz, Outreach Coordinator myrna@sbbike.org Ken Dahmen, Santa Maria Program Manager ken@sbbike.org Diana La Riva, Volunteer Coordinator diana@sbbike.org Dominic Clark, Bici SB Shop Manager dominic@sbbike.org Anne Bercilla, Santa Maria Office Manager anne@sbbike.org
GOVT. LIAISONS & ADVISORS Matt Dobberteen, Advisor County of Santa Barbara matt@cosbpw.net Kent Epperson, Advisor Traffic Solutions kepperson@sbcag.org Michael Becker SBCAG mbecker@sbcag.org Sam Furtner, City of Santa Barbara, Advisor Sfurtner@santabarbaraca.gov
ART DIRECTOR Cynthia Stahl, info@cynstahl.com
MANAGING EDITOR Holly Starley, editor@sbbike.org
CONTACT US 506 E. Haley St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103 PO Box 92047 Santa Barbara, CA 93190 sbbike.org SBBIKE: 805-845-8955 Bici Centro: 805-617-3225 Bici Santa Maria: 805-623-5763
CONTRIBUTE Your time: sbbike.org/volunteer Financially: sbbike.org/donate
Thank you, Business Members and Supporters DI A MON D ME MBE R S
PL ATIN UM M EM B ER S
GOLD ME MBE R S
T ITA N I UM ME MBE R S
S I LV E R ME MBE R S ceramics
PRINTING & MAILWORKS
BRONZE MEMBERS
Revolution Coaching LLC
Tailwinds Bicycle Club of Santa Maria
Te a m u p w i t h S B B B I K E . G i ve yo ur p e o p le tra n s p o r t ati o n a n d f itn e s s ch o i ce s . Enjoy p e rk s like b ike ra ck s , b le n d e r, work s h ops , a n d m or e.
Become a member SBBIKE.org
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Coming Soon:
Biggest Shift in Bicycle
Infrastructure in 50 Years W
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w h i c h h a s l o n g b e e n l e f t h a l f-b u ilt .
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Fo r s o m e o n e w h o’s l o n g a d vo c ate d fo r i n f r a s t r u c t u re
a n d ro a d u s e e q u it y. “ We a re a b o u t to
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s e e th e m o s t s i g n i f i c a nt s h i f t i n b i c yc l e
T h ey s ay fo r t u n e favo r s th e b o l d ,” s ay s F r a n c e . “A n d we’ve
i n f ra s t r u c t u re s i n c e th e b i ke p ath s o f
b e e n p u s h i n g a b o l d a d vo c a c y p l at fo r m . T h ey a l s o s ay l u c k
UC S B a n d th e At a s c a d e ro C re e k i n th e
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p re p a re d a n d h ave s e c u re d f u n d i n g th at n o b o d y e x p e c te d
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wo u l d h ave b e e n av a il a b l e i f yo u’ d h ave a s ke d th e m f ive
b i g g e s t s et o f i m p rove m e nt s i n b i ke
ye a r s a g o.”
p ath s i n 50 ye a r s .” T h e s e p roj e c t s m e a n re s i d e nt s w i ll
F r a n c e h a s a m e s s a g e fo r th e m a ny c o m m u n it y m e m b e r s w h o w e re a p a r t o f b r i n g i n g th i s to f r u it i o n: “ Yo u r e f fo r t s
h ave b et te r c o n n e c t iv it y th a n e ve r
m at te re d . Wr it i n g l et te r s , g o i n g to p u b l i c m e et i n g s , ra lly i n g at
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b i ke e ve nt s—a l l o f th at h a s m a d e th e d i f fe re n c e b et we e n o u r
S a nt a B a rb a r a . “ We’ve n e ve r h a d a n
c o m m u n it y g o i n g fo r th e s e a m b it i o u s p roj e c t s o r n ot .”
The San Jose Creek Bike Path Project will complete a 3-mile long portion of the Obern Trail, a segment of the California Coastal Trail, and an important link of the much larger San Jose Creek Bike Path system extending from the Obern Trail to Cathedral Oaks Road. CITY OF GOLETA
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Pr o j ec ts i n the Works R i n co n E x t e n s i o n – C l a s s 1 b i ke p at h f ro m C a r p i nte r i a Ave to m e et t h e R a l p h Fe r t i g M e m o r i a l P a r k (2020 ) S a n t a C l a u s L a n e – B i ke p at h co n n e c t i n g S a nt a C l a u s L a n e to C a r p i nte r i a Ave at A l i s o El e m e nt a r y S ch o o l , ke e p i n g c ycl i s t s of f t h e 101 A l i s o s B i ke B o u l e v a r d St at e St r e e t U n d e r c r o s s i n g a n d m a j o r b i ke l a n e i m p rove m e nt s S o l a a n d Ch i n o B i ke B o u l e v a r d s L a s P o s i t a s/M o d o c P a t h – 2 .6 m i le s e p a r ate d m u lt i u s e p at h a l o n g M o d o c R d f ro m C a l l e d e Lo s A m i g o s to L a s Po s it a s R d a n d a l o n g L a s Po s it a s f ro m M o d o c to C l i f f d r i ve S a n J o s e Cr e e k P a t hway – C l a s s 1 / cl a s s 2 b i ke p at h a d j a ce nt to S a n J o s e Cre e k , f ro m H o l l i s te r Ave to t h e At a s c a d e ro Cre e k cl a s s 1 p at h at G o let a B e a ch Modoc to Obern Connector
M u lt i - U s e Tr a i l at C a c h u m a L a ke (re v a m p e d , p g 6 a n d 7 ) O p e n St r e e t s G u a d a l u p e O p e n St r e e t s S a n t a M a r i a ( p g 8 a n d 9) O p e n St r e e t s S a n t a B a r b a r a O p e n St r e e t s C a r p i n t e r i a D u n n S c h o o l MT B ( p g 6 a n d 7 ) S o u t h C o a s t /S a n t a B a r b a r a C o m p o s i t e MT B t e a m S a n t a M a r i a Va l l ey C o m p o s i t e MT B t e a m B r o a dway B u f f e r e d L a n e – P rote c te d b i ke l a n e a l o n g a cr it i c a l co r r i d o r i n S a nt a M a r i a (u n d e r co n s i d e r at i o n) Hw y 1 3 5 B u f f e r e d L a n e – P rote c te d l a n e t h ro u g h Lo s A l a m o s (co m p l ete d) B i c yc l e e d u c at i o n i n s c h o o l s Bici Centro DIY shops SBBIKE.org
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#MoreKidsOnB i ke H e cke r g et s e m ot i o n a l w h e n it co m e s to t h e m ove m e nt t h at ’s b e co m e a h a s ht a g . W hy g et k i d s i n t h e
m o u nt a i n s o n b i ke s? “ Ta ke a k i d s t r u g g l i n g w it h to n s of s e lfd o u bt , e n co u r a g e h i m a n d co a ch h i m , a n d w atch h i s wo r l d ch a n g e ,” h e s ay s . H e cke r, w h o we a r s a l ot of h e l m et s w h e n it co m e s to yo ut h m o u nt a i n b i k i n g , i s s to ke d D u n n S ch o o l m o u nt a i n b i ke r s (f ro m D u n n’s m i d d le a n d h i g h s ch o o l ) a re co m p et i n g w it h t h e N at i o n a l I nte r s ch o l a s t i c Cycl i n g A s s o ci at i o n ( N I C A ), a l o n g w it h t wo ot h e r S a nt a B a r b a r a Co u nt y te a m s ,
S o u t h Co a s t /S a nt a B a r b a r a Co m p o s ite a n d S a nt a Va l le y Co m p o s ite . H e ’s a l s o a f a n of N I C A’s p ro g r a m , G R I T— G i r l s To g et h e r—a i m e d at cr u m b l i n g t h e p e rce pt i o n t h a r i d e i n t h e m o u nt a i n s . “ T h at co u l d n’ t b e f u r t h e r f t r u t h ,” h e s ay s . H e cke r ’s d a u g hte r, Ch a r l ot te , w h o i n it i a l l y, j u s t b ro ke i nto t h e to p 1 5 . “ N ow s h e d o e s h e r s e lf,” h e b e a m s . K ate Co u r t n ey, of C a l i fo r n i a , w t h e 201 8 U CI M o u nt a i n B i ke Wo r l d ch a m p i o n s h i p s A m e r i c a n to d o s o s i n ce 20 01 .
If You Trail Work It ...
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h e y ’ l l r i d e , w a l k , a n d h i ke it . O h , a n d t h ey j u s t m i g ht h o l d a s t ate w i d e m o u nt a i n b i ke r a ce fo r
s o m e 1 ,0 0 0 k i d s a n d f i l l it w it h b e a m i n g p a re nt s , a n n o u n ce r s , a n d ve n d o r s—w h i ch w i l l le a d to #m o re k i d s o n b i ke s . I n M a rch , 1 2 3 vo lu nte e r s cle a re d a d o r m a nt t r a i l at C a ch u m a L a ke i n a n a re a c a l le d J a ck R a b b it F l at . T h e yet u n n a m e d m u lt i-u s e t r a i l—w a l ke r s , h i ke r s , a n d b i c ycl i s t s we l co m e —w i l l d o u b le a s a 6 . 5 -m i le cro s s- co u nt r y co u r s e i n l i n e to h o s t a 2020 S o C a l I nte r s ch o l a s t i c Le a g u e R a ce . Fo r S o ut h e r n C a l i fo r n i a yo u t h m o u nt a i n b i ke r s , t h at ’s h u g e , s ay s M i ke H e cke r, ch a i r of t h e Co u nt y R i d i n g a n d H i k i n g Tr a i l A d v i s o r y Co m m it te e . A r a ce
A whopping 123 volunteers circle up as part of a March trail work day to revamp a multi-use trail at Lake Cachuma that will also serve as a 6.5-mile cross-country course for young riders in Santa Barbara County and across California’s South Coast.
s ite cl o s e r to h o m e wo u l d e n a b le a n e x p l o s i o n of n e w r i d e r s b et we e n S LO a n d n o r t h L A—ke pt at b ay by l o n g- d i s t a n ce t r ave l re q u i re d to r a ce —a n d co u nte r a c t t h e l o s s of a r a ce s ite i n Lo s O l i vo s . S o H e cke r p ut o u t a c a l l fo r h e l p g et t i n g t h e t r a i l re a d y i n t i m e fo r a n i n s p e c t i o n n e ce s s a r y to g et it a p p rove d . A s yo u n g r i d e r s a n d co a ch e s p o u re d i n f ro m S a nt a B a r b a r a , S i m i Va l le y, N e w b u r y P a r k , S a nt a Yn e z , S a nt a M a r i a , a n d D u n n S ch o o l , h e wo n d e re d , A re we g o i n g to h ave e n o u g h to o l s? T h e l i s t of co l l a b o r ato r s i s l o n g— C a ch u m a L a ke Ra n g e r S u p e r v i s o r J e f f B oz a r t h; I nte r n at i o n a l M o u nt a i n B i k i n g A s s o ci at i o n’s Ch r i s O r r; t h e co a ch e s a n d te a m s; S B F i re a n d S B Co u nt y P a r k s , to o l s a n d lu n ch; S B M T V, to o l s a fet y a n d t r a i l te ch n i q u e i n s t r u c t i o n; D u n n M i d d le S ch o o l vo lu nte e r s , fo l l owu p wo r k . T h e d ay ’s e n d ? A g ro u p r i d e a ro u n d t h e t r a i l!
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Quick Release Spring 2019
Two youth mountain bike racers and their coach put the skills Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers taught them to good use. MIKE HECKER
Bikes Maria
s Riding at g i r l s c a n’ t ro m t h e o s t r u g g le d s n’ t d o u bt wo n g o l d at s—t h e f i r s t
A s a r a ce a n n o u n ce r, H e cke r ’s p r i v y to t h e g r it of m a ny r i d e r s , g i r l s a n d b oy s a l i ke . “ Yo u s h o u l d h e a r s o m e of t h e s e s to r i e s ,” h e s ay s . H e cke r c a l l s i nte r s ch o l a s t i c m o u nt a i n b i ke r a ci n g “a n a n i m a l n o o n e t h o u g ht wo u l d g et s o b i g .” I n t h e U n ite d St ate s , m o re t h a n 20,0 0 0 yo u n g p e o p le r a ce . T h at m e a n s s ch o l a r s h i p o p p o r t u n it i e s , m a ny f u l l-r i d e , to s ch o o l s a cro s s t h e co u nt r y. A s H e cke r s ay s , “ I t ’s a g re at t i m e to b e a k i d o n a b i ke .”
From 2 to 90 / $100 to $10K
Dunn School’s Charlotte Hecker (right) and her fellow racer are two of the 20,000+ young people around the country learning the tenacity and skills to mountain bike and competing with NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association).
Du nn Scho o l Coach Teac he s Cycl i ng ’s for A l l , for Li fe Wet z el h o p e s to i m p a r t h i s l ove o f c yc l i n g a n d it s b ro a d re a c h . Hi s b i ke s h o p j o b at 16 w a s fo l l ow e d b y a n u m b e r o f m e c h a n i c j o b s a n d c o a c h i n g p o s it i o n s a c ro s s th e c o u nt r y. He l a n d e d i n L o s O l ivo s w h e n h i s w i fe , Ste p h a n i e , a S T E M (s c i e n c e , te c h n o l o g y, e n g i n e e r i n g , a n d m ath e m at i c s) te a c h e r, to o k a p o s it i o n at D u n n S c h o o l . C yc l i n g ’s fo r e ve r yo n e , h e te ll s h i s te a m . O n a f i el d t r i p to S a nt a B a rb a ra , h e to o k th e te a m to th re e s h o p s—B i c i Ce nt ro, w h e re yo u c a n re f u rb i s h a $10 0 y a rd s a l e b i ke yo u r s el f; Fa s t r a c k , w h e re yo u c a n “ d ro p te n g ra n d o n a Coach John Wetzel and his Dunn School High School mountain bike team visit Bici Centro Santa Barbara. CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS.
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h i g h- e n d r i d e”; a n d B i c yc l e B o b ’s , a c o r p o rate s h o p (s el l i n g Tre k ). “ I w a nt to s h ow th e m th at , w h ate ve r k i n d o f k i d , w h ate ve r k i n d o f r i d e r
e i n g p a r t o f k i d s a c c o m p l i s h i n g th e “ i m p o s s i b l e” i s , fo r J o h n Wet z el , h e a d c o a c h o f D u n n S c h o o l ’s
N IC A h i g h s c h o o l m o u nt a i n b i k i n g te a m , th e b e s t p a r t o f c o a c h i n g . T h ey g o f ro m b a re ly a b l e to r i d e 5 m il e s to c r u i s i n g 1 5; a re “p u m p e d ” to c o n q u e r n e w c h a ll e n g e s; a n d l e a r n to i nte r a c t s a fe ly w ith t ra f f i c . “A n d w ith oth e r s o n th e t ra i l ,” h e a d d s , c h u c k l i n g . H e e n c o u ra g e s th e m , a s a m b a s s a d o r s fo r th e i r s p o r t , to s ay h i . Wet z el b e c a m e a n LC I (L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a n B i c yc l i s t s
th ey w a nt to b e , th ey c a n f i n d a s h o p,” h e s ay s . “A n d th at it ’s s o m eth i n g th ey c a n d o fo re ve r.” D u r i n g Wet z el ’s “n o r m a l j o b ”—h e’s a s t ay-at-h o m e d a d—h i s t wo -ye a r- o l d , J a m e s , r i d e s a b a l a n c e b i ke . Hi s d a d , j u s t ret i re d , i s a b o u t to e m b a rk o n a c yc l e to u r f ro m Co l o ra d o to th e Atl a nt i c O c e a n . Wet z el , a US A C yc l i n g R a c e m e c h a n i c , fo r n ow, w a nt s to b e h o m e
Ce r t i f i e d In s t r u c to r) l a s t f a ll . D u r i n g s h o r t d ay l i g ht h o u r s
w ith “ th e l it tl e o n e” (s o o n to b e l it tl e o n e s). “ I
o f w i nte r m o nth s , th e te a m t a ke s to th e s t re et s fo r d a ily
d o n’t w a nt to b e g o n e at r a c e s w h e n I c o u l d b e
p r a c t i c e , a n d h e p u t s th e t ra i n i n g to g o o d u s e .
s p e n d i n g t i m e w ith h i m .” SBBIKE.org
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Santa Maria Magic:
“O p en St reet s br ings joy! ” —SBBIK E E xec ut ive D irec tor Ed France
The Joy of Open Streets O
n M a rc h 31 , 20,0 0 0+ d i s c ove re d S a nt a M a r i a’s h i d d e n g e m s a n d e nv i s i o n e d a v i b ra nt i nte g rate d c o m m u n it y w ith b ro a d
t ra n s p o r t at i o n c h o i c e s . Fo r m a ny, l i ke o rg a n i z e r Ke nt E p p e r s o n o f Tra f f i c S o l u t i o n s , th e c it y ’s f i r s t a n n u a l O p e n St re et s re f l e c te d a t ra n s fo r m at i o n . “ W h i l e fo r a n o u t s i d e o b s e r ve r, We s t M a i n St re et m ay a p p e a r th e s a m e ,” h e s ay s , “ th e p o s it ive i m p r i nt l e f t f ro m th e e ve nt re m a i n s s t ro n g i n th e f a b r i c o f o u r h e a r t s , k n ow i n g th at , a s w e t ra n s fo r m o u r s t re et s fo r a d ay, w e a l s o t ra n s fo r m o u r c o m m u n it y i nto th e f u t u re .” Team SOIL flipping for the crowds
Event coordinator Carlos Escobedo, whose “passion for life, community, and meaningful human relationships is infectious” and “a testament of what one individual can do to shape a community.” (TS Director Kent Epperson)
Colorfully attired dancers
“ I of f icially fell in love w ith Santa Mar ia . W hat a mag ical day.” —Traf f ic Solut ion s D irec tor Kent Epp er son
Musicians and performers
The Big Trike Race, one of the 100+ activities on offer, at the 170+ booths PHOTOS DANIEL GIRARD
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Quick Release Spring 2019
Thousands of happy faces
Training Wheels Up! CHP Officer Available to Help with Cycling Instruction
Officer Efrem Moore helps this first-time rider (5) and her mom, SM City Councilwoman Gloria Soto, through CHP’s Open Streets bike rodeo, where officers passed out helmets. CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS
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n cre a s i n g s afet y a m o n g c ycl i s t s i s w hy C a l ifo r n i a H i g hw ay P at ro l O f f i ce r Ef re m M o o re b e c a m e a Le a g u e
of A m e r i c a n Cycl i s t s Ce r t i f i e d I n s t r u c to r ( LCI ). I t ’s w hy h e a n d ot h e r of f i ce r s h e l d a b i ke ro d e o at O p e n St re et s a n d p a s s e d o u t h e l m et s (g r a nt f u n d e d) u nt i l
B roa dway B u ffe re d L a n e? Ye s , Plea se! G oo d news for all who share S ant a Maria’s stre et s: A m ajor overhaul of Broadway Stre et is an opp or tunit y. C altrans an d the Cit y of S ant a Maria are considering changing the l ane width an d adding not just a bic ycle l ane—a b uf fere d bic ycle l ane— on this critical m ain corridor!
t h ey r a n o ut . W it h t h e t r a i n i n g (s p o n s o re d by CH P), M o o re p l a n s to a s s i s t l o c a l c ycl i n g p ro g r a m s . A n d h e w a nt s to g et t h e wo rd o u t t h at h e ’s av a i l a b le to s ch o o l s . W h at d o e s M o o re l ove m o s t a b o u t c ycl i n g i n s t r u c t i o n? T h e a n s we r co m e s e a s i l y : “ S e e i n g t h o s e k i d s’ f a ce s l i g ht u p . I t ’s e xcit i n g to g i ve t h e m a l it t le f re e d o m .” M o o re’s a l s o e xcite d a b o u t g row i n g c ycl i n g aw a re n e s s a n d e d u c at i o n i n t h e N o r t h Co u nt y. T h e re a re ch a l le n g e s , h e a ck n ow l e d g e s . Fo r o n e , b i c ycle l a n e s n e e d re p a i nte d , s o t h at “m o re p e o p le h ave a n o p p o r t u n it y to k n ow t h e l a n e s a re t h e re , a n d we ’re a l l o n t h e s a m e p a g e . “ Eve r y b o d y w a nt s to g et w h e re t h e y ’re g o i n g s afe l y,” M o o re a d d s . “ We a l l [c ycl i s t s a n d m oto r i s t s] s h a re a
Watch " You Make the Call” to learn why Officer Moore call s helmets “ the single most imp or tant way to prevent head injur y.”
co m m o n re s p o n s i b i l it y fo r m a k i n g t h at h a p p e n .” M o o re h a s l o n g l ove d r i d i n g . “ I ’ve a lw ay s h a d a b i ke ,” h e s a i d . “ St i l l d o.” H e re m e m b e r s l o s i n g h i s t r a i n i n g w h e e l s . “ I t u r n e d to my d a d a n d s a i d , ‘ We h ave to g et t h e s e t h i n g s of f.’ ” H e’ d b e e n r i d i n g a n g le d to ke e p t h e t r a i n i n g w h e e l s of f t h e g ro u n d . “ I t w a s ove r,” h e s ay s . “ I n e e d e d t h e f re e d o m .”
SBBIKE.org
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Rolling Out an Evolution: Happy 2nd Bici SM!
W
h e n eve r B i ci Ce nt ro S a nt a M a r i a i s o p e n , it ’s a h i ve of a c t i v it y. T h e s h o p i s a re f le c t i o n of it s
p a s s i o n ate , i n n ov at i ve p ro g r a m m a n a g e r, Ke n D a h m e n . “ I t ’s p ret t y i n s p i r i n g to s e e h ow Ke n t re at s p e o p le ,” s ay s S B B I K E’s n ewe s t b o a rd m e m b e r D av i d D e n n i s , p o i nt i n g to D a h m e n’s co m p a s s i o n a n d at te nt i ve n e s s . O n vo l u nte e r T h u r s d ay s , th e s h o p i s p a c ke d w ith re s c u e d b i c yc l e s—f ro m th e d u m p, th e p o l i c e d e p a r t m e nt , a n d th e g e n e ra l p u b l i c—a n d vo l u nte e r w re n c h e r s re p u r p o s i n g th e m . R e g u l a r s i n c l u d e a ret i re e / b i c yc l e a d vo c ate; th e m a n a g e r o f a c h e m i c a l l a b; a C a lt r a n s e m p l oye e; a n d c o u ntl e s s h i g h s c h o o l a n d c o l l e g e s t u d e nt s . Yo u n g p e o p l e f l o c k to th e s h o p; a yo u th o p e n s h o p w a s a d d e d o n M o n d ay s . We e ke n d o p e n s h o p s ,
Bici SM Program Director Ken Dahmen; Daniel Chacon, LCI and Pedal Power TA at Tommie Kunst Junior High; and David Dennis, SBBIKE’s newest board member, display a Community Award from Liberty Elementary for helping provide cycling education at the school. CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS
b i c yc l e s to fo s te r k i d s . We e ke n d c o n c e r t s
D a h m e n s e e m s to n e ve r s to p . He t a ke s it i n s t r i d e , fo c u s i n g o n i n c l u s i o n . “ Ke n d o e s a n i n c re d i b l e j o b o f m e et i n g th e n e e d s o f a p a r t o f o u r c o m m u n it y th at i s o f te n u n d e r s e r ve d ,” s ay s
fe at u r i n g l o c a l b a n d s t u r n c o n c e r tg o e r s i nto s h o p u s e r s / vo l u nte e r s a n d v i c e ve r s a . It ’s f it t i n g B i c i Ce nt ro’s s e c o n d ye a r
D e n n i s . Ho m e to S p a n i s h s p e a ke r s , f a r mwo rke r s , a n d
c u l m i n ate d w ith S a nt a M a r i a’s w il d ly s u c c e s s f u l
o l d e r p e o p l e w h o u s e b i c yc l e s fo r t ra n s p o r t at i o n , th e
f i r s t O p e n St re et s . Pe o p l e s w a r m e d to B i c i ’s
re g i o n h a s j u s t o n e h i g h- e n d b i ke s h o p . “ S o B i c i i s a n
b o oth to t a l k n e e d e d i n f r a s t r u c t u re , l e a r n a b o u t
i n c re d i b ly i m p o r t a nt re s o u rc e .”
th e s h o p, a n d u s e th e b i ke v a l et . T h e re c o rd-
With PathPo i nt , a n o n p ro f it th at f i n d s wo rk p l a c e
b re a k i n g at te n d a n c e n o d o u b t re f l e c t s a n
o p p o r t u n it i e s fo r p e o p l e w ith d i s a b i l it i e s o r m e nt a l
e vo l u t i o n u n d e r w ay i n S a nt a M a r i a—i n w h i c h
h e a lth d i a g n o s e s a n d yo u n g a d u lt s , B i c i o f fe r s wo rk
S BBI K E / B i c i Ce nt ro i s p l ay i n g a v it a l ro l e .
e xc h a n g e . In e a rly A p r i l , th e s h o p p a r t n e re d w ith
See events and shop hours. .
a p roj e c t to a s s e m b l e a n d d i s t r i b u te m o re th a n 50
Growing up with SBBIKE
I
t w a s n’ t u nt i l Pe d a l Powe r at To m m i e Ku n s t J u n i o r H i g h t h at W i l l i b a l d o P i n a G o n z a le z g ot “a n a c t u a l b i ke .” ( H i s r i d e
w a s w ay to o s m a l l .) I n t h e e a r n-a-b i ke p ro g r a m , h e l e a r n e d to r i d e s afe l y o n t h e s t re et s a l o n g s i d e c a r s . “ T h at w a s n ew,” h e re c a l l s . N o l o n g e r co n f i n e d to s h o r t d i s t a n ce s o n s i d ew a l k s , “ I t i nt ro d u ce d m e to t h e i d e a t h at t h e b i ke w a s a m o re i n n ov at i ve w ay to t r ave l .” Fa s t-fo r w a rd a fe w ye a r s . At 1 7, G o n z a le z vo lu nte e re d at B i ci S a nt a M a r i a t h ro u g h a wo r k e xch a n g e p ro g r a m . B i ci co n f i r m e d G o n z a le z’s d e s i re to p u r s u e m e ch a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g . H e e n j oye d t a k i n g b i c ycle s a p a r t a n d f i g u r i n g o ut t h e t i ny a d j u s t m e nt s t h at at f i r s t “ k i n d of b le w my m i n d .” G o n z a le z s e e s B i ci a s a n “a cce s s p o i nt ” i n t h e co m m u n it y, w it h o u t w h i ch , “a l ot of p e o p le wo u l d n’ t b e a s k n ow l e d g e a b l e a b o u t o r c a re a b o u t w h at it t a ke s to r i d e b i ke s .”
Volunteer bike wrencher Willibaldo Pena Gonzalez with his parting gift from Bici SM Program Director Ken Dahmen—a sleek smooth running, single-gear bike he treasures and keeps in top condition.
10
Quick Release Spring 2019
G o n z a le z i s aw a re of t h e p u s h fo r a m o re b i ke -f r i e n d l y cit y a m o n g s o m e S M Cit y Co u n ci l m e m b e r s . H e ’s g l a d a b o ut t h at . “ I t ’s i m p o r t a nt ,” h e s ay s .
E
ve r yo n e at B o n it a— p r i n ci p a l a n d v i ce
p r i n ci p a l ; te a ch e r s a n d s t a f f; a n d , of co u r s e , s t u d e nt s a n d p a re nt s—h a s e m b r a ce d b i c ycl e e d u c at i o n i n t h e cl a s s ro o m h e a r te d l y. W h e n t h e f l e et of b i c ycl e s a r r i ve s fo r t h e s e co n d a n d t h i rd g r a d e P E cl a s s e s , t h e p r i n ci p a l i s t r u ck-s i d e u n l o a d i n g , t h e k i d s a re t h r i l l e d w it h t h e i r n e w s k i l l s , a n d t h e te a ch e r s l ove g i v i n g t h e m t h e g if t of r i d i n g . N e x t ch a l l e n g e? F i g u re o u t h ow to s u r m o u nt i nf r a s t r u c t u re ch a l l e n g e s a n d
O n e o f 16 s t u d e n t s a t B o n i t a El e m e n t a r y S c h o o l w h o re ce i v e d a h e l m e t , l o c k , a n d b i ke (re f u r b i s h e d b y B i c i S M v o l u n te e r s) t h a t h e re ce i v e d fo r C h r i s t m a s 201 8 .
i m p l e m e nt f u r t h e r p ro g r a m i n g fo r o l d e r s t u d e nt s .
Welcome New Bici Staff! A nne B erc illa , of f ice m a n ager, Bici Cent ro, S a nt a M a r i a .
BICI CENTRO
D ominic C lark, shop m a n ager, Bici Cent ro, S a nt a B a rba ra .
Ride the W i n d m i l l t h i s J u ly! C o m p l e te yo u r s u m m e r w i t h a C e ntu r y, a M e t r i c C e ntu r y, o r a Q u a r te r C e ntu r y r i d e t h r o u g h b e a u t i f u l S a nt a M a ri a w i n e co u nt r y. S u p p o r t b i ke e d u c at i o n a n d B i c i S M . Register
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SBBIKE.org
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SB BIKE
SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION
Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition PO Box 92047 Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047
good of
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Bike-In-Movie & Trivia Nights
years 10
Bike Challenge May 1-31: SmartRide.org/s/Challenge
Themed Rides: “Cycle de Mayo” & “May the 4th be with You” • Bike to School Day - May 8 Bike to Work Week & Breakfasts - May 13-17
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Clinics: Mountain Biking // Maintenance // City Cycling
cycleMAYnia.org A program of:
n!
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an cle fu
40 great bike events during Bike Month in May!
Visit the websi te for full ev ent listings